Non-Resident Library Cards

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

I just did a search.overdrive.com check for something on my TBR list. I found it at the Harris County Texas library, which does not sell out of state cards. But then I noticed this:

Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement

Great find. You also have access to the much smaller Bryan and College Station library.

Thanks for posting.

Edit- Harris County has over 130,000 ebooks. I'll add Harris to the list with a comment directing you to Houston's webpage. Houston has easy online sign-up.

[nabsltd]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement

Note that the link appears to have changed to:

https://houstonlibrary.org/blogs/sys...wing-agreement

[texasnightowl]

Was doing some quick looking and noticed Stark is now $100. https://www.starklibrary.org/get-a-library-card/

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Fbone

You also have access to the much smaller Bryan and College Station library.

Thank you. I never would have noticed that.

Question for everyone: Are there other examples where you can use the same library login credentials for different Overdrive collections?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

Thank you. I never would have noticed that.

Question for everyone: Are there other examples where you can use the same library login credentials for different Overdrive collections?

Massachusetts has some library systems that allow reciprocal borrowing.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

Thank you. I never would have noticed that.

Question for everyone: Are there other examples where you can use the same library login credentials for different Overdrive collections?

The thing to be aware of in regard to reciprocal privileges is that you can only get a book if no one whose primary library it is wants it. Which is fine overall; you can go to your own primary library for popular books, but it does mean that some books with constant low-level demand will never be available. Just this month, I acknowledged that I was never going to rise to the top of the list for a wanted book which I had on hold at two reciprocal libraries and bit the bullet and bought it. I note with the Harris/Houston agreement, you can't even get on the waiting list, which would at least have the virtue of putting yourself ahead of other reciprocal borrowers. You just have to get lucky.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

Thank you. I never would have noticed that.

Question for everyone: Are there other examples where you can use the same library login credentials for different Overdrive collections?

The two I'm aware of are the St Louis City/County/St Charles with the County collection approaching 92,000.
The other being a group of libraries in Idaho with very modest collections.

Texasnightowl- thanks for the update. Post updated.

[Fbone]

I added Harris County with an asterisk to join Houston.

It's a shame about Stark's price increase. I checked all the others, and they don't appear to have changed.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Fbone

It's a shame about Stark's price increase.

Yes. I had a Stark card and let it lapse, thinking I'd let my wishlist repopulate before reupping. At $100, that's very unlikely. I'll make do with my free cards and fill in with book purchases.

Not that it's not worth $100. If I had only my execrable state library, I'd stump up. I've always thought most library cards were underpriced for their inherent value. But it's a big outlay and doubling its price hurts.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by issybird

I note with the Harris/Houston agreement, you can't even get on the waiting list, which would at least have the virtue of putting yourself ahead of other reciprocal borrowers. You just have to get lucky.

As the book I wanted to read today was available, I did not know this until now! This is indeed a big disadvantage, especially because it looks like my taste is probably closer to that of Harris County than Houston.

It looks like Houston cardholders can reserve at Bryan and College Station, although their collection is too small to be of much interest.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by issybird

Yes. I had a Stark card and let it lapse, thinking I'd let my wishlist repopulate before reupping. At $100, that's very unlikely. I'll make do with my free cards and fill in with book purchases.

Not that it's not worth $100. If I had only my execrable state library, I'd stump up. I've always thought most library cards were underpriced for their inherent value. But it's a big outlay and doubling its price hurts.

I always preferred to give my ebook spends to a library/Overdrive/KKR than a big retailer. Since I never reread keeping my ebooks permanently was never a concern.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by texasnightowl

Was doing some quick looking and noticed Stark is now $100. https://www.starklibrary.org/get-a-library-card/

Well, that makes the decision not to renew easier; I was already leaning in that direction. Stark is OK, but rarely had anything I couldn't get at my home libraries. So when my card expires at the end of June, I'll say adios.

I've got one more month left at Metropolitan, and after that, I'll just stick with my local libraries. My library usage is way down anyway since I can't download audiobooks anymore to listen on my mp3 player.

[Dazrin]

Looks like Enoch Pratt County no longer allows access to their digital collection with a non-resident card. From here:

Out of State Accounts
Don’t live in Maryland? Non-Maryland residents can still enjoy access to books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other materials in the Pratt Library's physical collection. Out of state accounts are not eligible to use Pratt's digital library resources or databases that require a Pratt library card.

For Miami-Dade, the FAQ says:

How can I purchase a non-resident library card?
Residents who live in Bal Harbour Village, Miami Shores, and the Town of Surfside may obtain a non-resident library card for an annual fee of $65.00. Please contact customercare@mdpls.org for more assistance.

So, it doesn't look like this is legit for out of state residents any longer. I don't see an general out of state option.

For the St Charles Library, the link to the application is not working for me. I think it should be this: https://www.stchlibrary.org/get-library-card

[Fbone]

Thanks for the updates-

I may have a replacement for Enoch Pratt that uses the same Overdrive account. Awaiting verification.
Also, I sent an email off to Miami to confirm the non-resident restrictions.
I fixed St Charles' broken link but one would need to apply at St Louis Public library for the St Charles and County cards.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Looks like Enoch Pratt County no longer allows access to their digital collection with a non-resident card.

I have an out of state Cecil County Maryland card that I purchased, in person, at the Elkton branch, in 2023. Current price is $35, and there is no mention of an eBook limitation.

While mine should be expired, I just checked, and, to my surprise, it still works.

AFAIK, Cecil County shares the same Overdrive collection with Baltimore. An all-eBooks search returns 27,141 results.

I was disappointed with their collection. Wait times are long. But if anyone is ever driving from, say, DC to NYC, and does not have access to one of the larger collections, a Cecil County branch might be a quick stop. The price is reasonable.